Newsletter

Residents react to indictments of former city officials

The indictments of five former Hardeeville city officials came as a surprise to longtime residents.

Former mayor and lifetime resident Thorton Butler was astounded to hear his close friend named as one of the five.

Butler never expected former police chief James Hubbard to be charged with misconduct in office. He said Hubbard is not only a friend, but also someone who served by his side while he was mayor from 1988 to 1994.

“I was really shocked… but it’s just an indictment and when a court date is set, the facts will be determined,” Butler said. “I hate to see that happen for some of them. I hope the police chief gets cleared because he’s a good guy. He worked during the time I was mayor and I never expected this from him.”

Attempts to reach Hubbard, who resides in Levy and is a police officer at the University of South Carolina Beaufort, for comment were unsuccessful.

Indicted were:

• Eric Washington, former police lieutenant, for the period Aug. l, 2005 through April 15, 2006.

• Santesia Henderson, former city treasurer, for the period June 1, 2005 through April 15, 2006.

• Randall Shane Haynes, former city manager, for the period Aug. 1, 2005 through April 30, 2006.

• John Ekaitis, former fire chief, for the period Oct. 1, 2005 through Feb. 15, 2006.

• Hubbard, former police chief, for the period Jan. 1, 2006 through April 15, 2006.

The next step is an arraignment, in which the defendants are expected to appear in court and bond will be set. The Attorney General’s office will issue a call for trial and the defendants will enter a plea and a trial date will be set.

“Arraignment dates for Hubbard and Ekaitis will be held at 11 a.m. April 15 in front of Judge Perry Buckner at the Jasper County Courthouse,” said Mark Powell, communications director for the Attorney General’s office. “Charles B. MaCloskie of Beaufort will represent Hubbard. Ekaitis is currently retaining legal representation. The other three are being located out of state. Once located, we’ll begin expedition proceedings.”

As a resident who has lived in the city for 15 years, Mary Davis fears the indictments bring up a chaotic past.

“It breaks my heart and honestly, hope it’s not true,” Davis said. “Hardeeville does not need any more negative publicity… we’ve finally gotten to the right place with the mayor, council and administration is looking better. This news takes us back to where we used to be as a town. It was chaos and we’re not at that place any more. I hate the thought of having to bring the past up when things are going so well for the town.”

The documents, released by the S.C. Attorney General’s office, said the charge of misconduct in office means an individual did “knowingly, intentionally, and willfully engage in acts of misconduct by engaging in acts and omissions in the form of malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance, in breach of his duties to the public of good faith, honesty, and accountability.”

That includes the abuse of the leave cashing policy. None of the five has been reported as being booked at the Jasper County Detention Center.

After a four-year forensic audit identified irregularities, the State Law Enforcement Division opened a criminal investigation into Hardeeville finances in 2008.

“Until the case goes to court, the investigation is still ongoing,” Thom Berry, SLED spokesman said last week.

The case was passed from the 14th Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office to the Attorney General’s Office to avoid any conflict of interest, Powell said.